On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon Macondo oil well drilling platform released 4 million barrels (636,000 cubic meters) of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. It took scientists and engineers nearly three months and several different attempts to cap the well. The Macondo oil well was located 1524 m (5000 feet) below the surface of the water, about 80 km (50 miles) off the coast of Louisiana. The spill affected 2113 km (1300 miles) of shoreline along the coasts of five states. Most crude oil contains 84–87% carbon by weight. Scientists have not yet fully assessed the environmental impact of the accident.

Computer modeling can be used to help improve cleanup and response systems for the next major oil spill. Which of these uses demonstrates how computer modeling can be used to minimize the impact of another spill?
a
Creating a model of how the oil spread through the Gulf of Mexico to predict what areas need the greatest amount of protection.
b
Calculating the total oil that entered the Gulf of Mexico during the spill.
c
Recording the number and type of each dead organism collected during the spill.
d
Finding the average flow rate of the oil through the burst pipeline during the spill.